Holocene perspectives on the ecology of moorland burning in northern England

该项目旨在将当前的高沼地燃烧实践纳入长期生态系统动态的背景下，以提高我们对高沼地生态系统如何应对燃烧制度变化的理解。新的古生态数据集将从一个从这个角度来看研究不足的地区，约克郡山谷国家公园产生。还将选择英格兰北方其他地方的地点，以利用现代泥炭地生态和火灾的同步研究（例如，在北方和南部奔宁山脉）。计划在这些地区进行大规模的泥炭地恢复项目，迫切需要充分了解这些项目的生态影响。为了做到这一点，对生态系统功能的长期观点至关重要。泥炭沉积物的古生态分析，涉及一系列的代理技术，将用于重建选定的环境参数，包括燃烧强度（木炭），植被组成（花粉和植物宏化石），和表面湿度（有壳变形虫）。对文件证据的分析将增加关于过去50 - 500年生态系统变化轨迹的细节。这些方法将使学生能够测试以下中心零假设：1）目前短期（50 - 500年）的高沼地生态系统变化的轨迹是在全新世的变化范围内; 2）计划减少燃烧的范围，频率和强度将不会导致变化的植被组成和泥炭地水文研究领域。研究结果将满足改善研究基础的迫切需要，以帮助制定切实可行的管理政策，并将对国际科学努力作出重大贡献，以了解火在决定生态系统功能方面的作用。因此，该项目是一个很好的培训机会，既解决了该领域的蓝天和应用层面，并可能导致在学术研究或土地管理和政策的职业生涯。该项目是易处理的（几个潜在的合适的网站已经确定），并提供机会，让学生根据自己的兴趣和想法的发展，在不同的方向与项目合作伙伴一起开发项目。与约克郡山谷国家公园管理局（YDNPA）的保护和政策部门的合作将确保结果用于通知管理和恢复政策，并允许学生获得高沼地保护和政策制定的实践经验。YDNPA还将为实地工作提供实际支持，除了专业培训，项目监督和为期一年的实习职位。与从业者的密切参与将有利于项目成果的科学发现和工作的影响，也将大大有助于学生的职业准备。主办机构将提供符合RCUK要求的通用技能培训，项目主管将提供古环境解释原则和实践方面的科学和技术培训。对研究生的督导和支援工作，亦有妥善的安排，透过研究支援小组制度，为评估研究生的进展，提供一个良好的支援网络和架构。HI将为学生提供一系列出色的设施，包括高质量的实验室和办公空间，世界一流的分析设施，专用PC和车辆; YDNPA还将提供其设施，包括现场设备和车辆，用于现场，除了提供学生在实习期间的办公室要求。

This project aims to place current moorland burning practices into the context of long-term ecosystem dynamics to improve our understanding of how moorland ecosystems respond to changes in burning regime. New palaeoecological data sets will be generated from a region that is understudied from this perspective, the Yorkshire Dales National Park. Sites elsewhere in northern England will also be chosen in order to take advantage of concurrent studies on modern peatland ecology and fire (e.g. in the northern and southern Pennines). Large-scale peatland restoration projects are planned for these regions and there is an urgent need to fully understand the ecological implications of these projects. In order to do this, the long-term perspective on ecosystem function is essential. Palaeoecological analysis of peat deposits, involving a range of proxy techniques, will be used to reconstruct selected environmental parameters, including burning intensity (charcoal), vegetation composition (pollen and plant macrofossils), and surface wetness (testate amoebae). Analysis of documentary evidence will add detail on the trajectory of ecosystem change for the last 50-500 years. These approaches will enable the student to test the following central null hypotheses: 1) That current short-term (50-500 year) trajectories of moorland ecosystem change are within the range of variability for the Holocene; 2) That planned reduction in burning extent, frequency and intensity will not lead to changes to the vegetation composition and peatland hydrology in the areas studied. The results will meet an urgent need for an improved research base to aid the development of practical management policies and will make a significant contribution to the international scientific effort to understand the role of fire in determining ecosystem function. This project therefore represents an excellent training opportunity which addresses both blue-skies and applied dimensions of the field and could lead to a career in either academic research or land management and policy. The project is tractable (several potential appropriate sites have already been identified) and provides opportunities for the student to develop the project in different directions according to their interests and development of ideas in conjunction with the project partner. Collaboration with the Conservation and Policy Department of the Yorkshire Dales National Park Authority (YDNPA) will ensure the results are used to inform management and restoration policy, and allow the student to gain hands-on experience in moorland conservation and policy development. The YDNPA will also provide practical support for fieldwork in addition to specialist training, project supervision, and a year-long internship position for the student. Close involvement with practitioners will benefit the project outcomes in terms of both the scientific findings and the impact of the work, and will also contribute significantly to the student's career preparation. The Host Institution (HI) will provide generic skills training attuned to RCUK requirements and the project supervisors will provide scientific and technical training in the principles and practice of palaeoenvironmental interpretation. Supervision and support of postgraduate research students is well organised, providing an excellent support network and framework for assessment of progress through the Research Support Group system. The HI will provide the student with an excellent range of facilities including high-quality laboratory and office space, world-class analytical facilities, a dedicated PC and access to vehicles; the YDNPA will also offer access to its facilities including field equipment and vehicles for use in the field, in addition to providing for the student's office requirements during the internship periods.